Cam plate for a door hinge assembly of a domestic refrigerator

Abstract

A cam plate for door hinge assembly of a domestic refrigerator includes a plate body having a cam surface that is configured to engage a corresponding cam surface positioned at an end of a refrigerator door. The plate body has a plug that extends from the plate body and a resilient tongue including a catch extending outwardly therefrom.

1 . A domestic refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein,   a door positioned at a front of the cabinet,   a first cam plate positioned at a first end of the door, the first cam plate including a first cam surface,   a hinge bracket coupled to the cabinet, the hinge bracket including a mounting plate and an inner wall that defines a slot through the mounting plate, and   a second cam plate positioned between the mounting plate and the first cam plate, the second cam plate comprising: (i) a plate body having a second cam surface engaged with the first cam surface of the first cam plate, and (ii) a plug extending from the plate body through the slot defined in the mounting plate, the plug including a resilient tongue having a catch formed thereon to engage a surface of the mounting plate to assist in retaining the second cam plate to the hinge bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge pin coupled to the hinge bracket and extending through a bore defined in the plate body. 
     
     
         3 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the hinge pin is threadingly coupled to the hinge bracket, and   when the hinge pin is rotated in a first direction, the door, the first cam plate, and the second cam plate are moved upward relative to the cabinet, and, when the hinge pin is rotated in a second direction, the door, the first cam plate, and the second cam plate are moved downward relative to the cabinet.   
     
     
         4 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein when the hinge pin is rotated in the first direction, the plug is configured to slide upward along the inner wall of the hinge bracket. 
     
     
         5 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the plug defines a first longitudinal axis and the hinge pin defines a second longitudinal axis offset from and extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the plug includes:
 an outer surface facing the inner wall of the hinge bracket, and   a rib extending from the outer surface, the rib engaging the inner wall of the hinge bracket.   
     
     
         7 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the outer surface of the plug is convex. 
     
     
         8 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the slot defined in the mounting plate is oblong and assists in the alignment of the plug to the mounting plate. 
     
     
         9 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the rib of the plug engages a substantially planar inner wall section of the inner wall, and the resilient tongue has an outer surface facing a concave inner wall section of the inner wall. 
     
     
         10 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resilient tongue is a first resilient tongue,   the plug includes a second resilient tongue extending parallel to the first resilient tongue, and   the plug includes a body positioned between the first resilient tongue and the second resilient tongue.   
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator door hinge assembly, comprising:
 a hinge bracket including a mounting plate and an inner wall that defines a slot through the mounting plate,   a cam plate coupled to the hinge bracket, the cam plate comprising: (i) a plate body having a cam surface configured to engage a corresponding cam surface positioned at a lower end of a refrigerator door, and (ii) a plug extending from the plate body through the slot defined in the mounting plate, and   a hinge pin moveably coupled to the hinge bracket, the hinge pin including a shaft that extends through an opening defined in the plate body,   wherein the plug of the cam plate includes (i) a pair of resilient tongues, each resilient tongue having a catch formed thereon to engage a bottom surface of the mounting plate, and (ii) a body positioned between the resilient tongues, the body engaging the inner wall of the hinge bracket.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator door hinge assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the inner wall of the hinge bracket includes a pair of substantially planar wall sections and a pair of concave wall sections connecting the pair of substantially planar wall sections. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator door hinge assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the body of the plug includes (i) a first beam including a first convex outer surface facing a first wall section of the pair of substantially planar wall sections, (ii) a second beam including a second convex outer surface facing a second wall section of the pair of substantially planar wall sections, and (iii) a third beam connecting the first beam to the second beam, and   each of the resilient tongues has an outer surface that faces one of the pair of concave wall sections.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator door hinge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plug includes:
 a first rib extending from the first convex outer surface, the first rib being engaged with the first wall section of the hinge bracket, and   a second rib extending from the second convex outer surface, the second rib being engaged with the second wall section of the hinge bracket.   
     
     
         15 . A door cam plate for a domestic refrigerator, comprising:
 a plate body including (i) an upper surface, (ii) a lower surface positioned opposite the upper surface, and (iii) a circular bore extending through the upper surface and the lower surface,   a pair of curved walls extending upwardly from the upper surface adjacent the circular bore, each curved wall including a cam surface configured to engage a corresponding cam surface positioned at a lower end of a refrigerator door, and   a plug extending downwardly from the lower surface of the plate body, the plug including:   (i) a first resilient tongue having a first catch extending outwardly from a lower end thereof,   (ii) a second resilient tongue having a second catch extending outwardly from a lower end thereof, and   (iii) a body positioned between the first resilient tongue and the second resilient tongue.   
     
     
         16 . The door cam plate of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes:
 a first beam including a first convex outer surface,   a second beam including a second convex outer surface, and   a third beam connecting the first beam to the second beam.   
     
     
         17 . The door cam plate of  claim 16 , wherein the plug includes a first rib extending outwardly from the first convex outer surface and a second rib extending outwardly from the second convex outer surface. 
     
     
         18 . The door cam plate of  claim 17 , wherein the third beam defines an axis, and the first rib and the second rib are positioned on the axis. 
     
     
         19 . The door cam plate of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first catch extends in a first direction orthogonal to the axis, and   the second catch extends in a second direction opposite the first direction and orthogonal to the axis.   
     
     
         20 . The door cam plate of  claim 15 , wherein the plate body includes a convex outer surface connecting the upper surface and the lower surface.